Designed by mechanical engineer Ron Patrick, this street-legal Volkswagen Beetle has two engines: A stock one in the front, and a 1,350-horsepower helicopter turboshaft engine (General Electric Model T58-8F) that he converted into a jet.
Here, you can see Ron Patrick's jet engine in action. Due to the damaging heat generated (exceeding 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit will, you know, 'cause problems), he's limited to three starts in a hour.
Built by ToyJunkies, this Toyota MR2 is powered by two GE T58 turbine engines. It has reached speeds of 187 mph, "with a lot more room to go," ToyJunkies explained.
Not all jet cars are homebrews: This photo from 1954 shows off General Motors' experimental XP-21 Firebird, a gas turbine-powered car.
Published:Caption:Fox Van AllenPhoto:FPG/Getty Images
10
of 18
This famous, destroyed Vampire
Driven by Colin Fallows, the Vampire afterburner jet car once held the British Landspeed Record of 300.3 mph (average). It famously crashed during a 2006 shooting of the show Top Gear, where it hit (unverified) speeds of 314 mph.
Published:Caption:Fox Van AllenPhoto:Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
11
of 18
This 2,100 horsepower jet semi
Bob Motz's "Semi Jet Truck" gives an epic flame-throwing live demo at a show in Detroit.
Published:Caption:Fox Van AllenPhoto:Paul Warner/Getty Images
12
of 18
This turbo jet Mustang funny car
Nicknamed "Firestorm," this Ford Mustang funny car was built with a 10,000-horsepower General Electric J85-5 turbo jet pulled from a Northrop F5 Strike Fighter.
Published:Caption:Fox Van AllenPhoto:Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images
13
of 18
This 10,000-horsepower jet funny car
Driven by Martin Hill, the Fireforce 2 is a 10,000-horsepower, jet-propelled car that tops out at 270 mph.
Published:Caption:Fox Van AllenPhoto:Andrew Milligan - PA Images
14
of 18
This famous jet car wit big aspirations
No list of jet-powered cars would be complete without this, the Bloodhound SSC. The supersonic car, a private venture with in-kind support from the UK government, has been designed to break the land speed record of 760 mph.
Published:Caption:Fox Van AllenPhoto:Matt Cardy / Getty Images
15
of 18
This 1,000 mph beast is also a rocket car
Powered by a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine and a Falcon Hybrid Rocket Motor, the Bloodhound SSC is aiming for a speed of 1,000 mph when it races across a South African track lake bed track in October 2018.
Wonder what it looks like when a jet-powered racer starts up its jet engine? YouTuber DTRockstar recorded a video of Black Ice, a jet-powered dragster, as it reaches 246 mph.
